I’m a White Republican Raising a Black Child: Deal With It

My husband and I – and consequently, my children – live a little bit in the public eye. As a writer and memoirist, I’ve chronicled funny and poignant stories from our family’s lives in two books, and as a conservative activist I’ve taken my children to various political events across the Southeast. In 2006 at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, a reporter for Newsweek interviewed my son and discovered he was skipping kindergarten for the conference. “Mitt Romney, however, is pro-education,” I made sure to note. In 2008, my kids heard speeches by all of the GOP Presidential candidates – they were so young then, I had to distract them when the candidates talked about hot button cultural issues like abortion and gay rights. (We hadn’t had those talks yet.) Now, four years later, they’re far more aware of the issues and are frequently the only school aged children at these conferences.

(It’s not that I necessarily want my kids to live and breathe politics, rather I simply would prefer to have them with me than with a babysitter.)

Because we’ve had the audacity to appear in public with our family, we’ve been getting hate mail from liberals who are deeply offended that a white family would raise a black child (the Huffington Post posted a video of Naomi and me at CPAC and it generated more than 1,000 comments, many of them utterly vile). Usually, I laugh at baseless criticism and it inspires me to work even harder at artfully annoying my critics. But when I get accused of actually harming my daughter by daring to raise her, it infuriates me. See, for example, an excerpt from tonight’s Facebook message:

“I feel so sorry for your little girl! She has a hard complex life ahead of her! She should not be raised by people who vote against her best interests.”

(It was longer and much more offensive.)

What is that, dear reader? You don’t understand how my family traveling to a poverty stricken African tribal area to take a starving, abandoned girl into our American family and loving her as fiercely and deeply as we love our biological children could be considered a bad thing? Well, see, you don’t realize that my family is…. how can I put this politely…. Republican. We are white conservatives, and the little girl we got from Africa is black. While most won’t come out and say they wish we’d left her in Africa to starve rather than be exposed to conservatism, I’m not sure what other conclusion to draw.

She now has two parents, a brother, and even a sister!

As Christians, we believe we should take care of orphans, to give fathers to the fatherless. We didn’t adopt to save the world, or to politically clone ourselves, or to annoy Democrats. We did it because children need loving parents, a warm bed, and good food (and, yes, a Happy Meal counts). We did it because as a two-year-old she weighed only 14 pounds. (Of course, as is frequently the case with adoption, we got her thinking we were preserving her life, we soon discovered that we’re the ones who are blessed by her presence.)

Are my husband and I Republicans? Yes. And we also love our little black child. I’m learning, for example, how to braid hair with colorful beads, I’m learning which colors look good against her chocolate colored skin tone, and I’ll teach her about her country of origin right after she learns her ABCs.

But to all of you liberals who are concerned I’m going to indoctrinate our children with conservative ideas? Rest assured I’m doing everything within my power to make sure all three of our kids grow up in the party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan.

You can’t limit or dictate her political options or her cultural values just because of her skin color, and your constant criticism shows that you are less concerned about the truly poor and more concerned about propagating your narrow and destructive identity politics.

It is crazy that so many people have managed to assume a particular party or ideology simply based on someone’s race or skin color! Your comments made me think about a new development here in Utah — the new republican candidate for the House seat in the new 4th congressional district in Utah is a woman named Mia Love, who is black, who is a woman, and who is Republican (and Mormon on top of that…). She gets much of the same back-lash from some of the same groups of people. It’ll be interesting to see if she wins. http://www.love4utah.com/

Tara Edelschick

Love this, Nancy. Love it, love it, love it.

I wish you lived closer. Then I could be her aunty, who would teach her to love the party of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton – not because she’s black, but because she’s brilliant.

Rachel Woodruff

I am a freelance writer, and conservative like yourself. My husband and I recently went through five months of attempting to adopt through the state before we were ultimately told that we weren’t stable enough at this time. Our instability stems from having a new baby and a four year old, my husband and I haven’t been married very long, and he had recently changed careers. That being said, I couldn’t help but wonder if our instability stemmed more from our Political beliefs than anything else… at some point we are praying to still be able to adopt, and while we feel that there are so many local children that need our help, we may have to look at private and even international adoption. Your story really reached my heart, and I pray that you and your family continue to be blessed and find the happiness that God has in store for you. I am sure that your sweet little angel will be blessed, despite being raised a conservative *wink*. Rachel Woodruff

BL

Well done, Nancy! When my wife and used to occasionally babysit a little African- American girl in D.C., I can’t tell you how many times we got nasty looks. Once and a while we would have to leave a certain place because we could see a confrontation brewing.

What makes me even more sad is that it would have been nearly impossible to adopt her and her teen mother in D.C. since the laws (and the culture) make it nearly impossible for cross race, domestic, adoption.

May God bless your family!

http://www.popehat.com Ken

Nancy, I’m a white parent raising three Asian children — two adopted from Korea, one from China. I’m doing my best to indoctrinate them as libertarians, but right now they’re more interested in the X-box.

We get an entirely different set of offensive comments than you do, in part because of the different attitudes towards different types of multi-racial families. (As I’ve written about before, adoptive parents of Asian kids get the you-must-be-racist-for-not-adopting-a-black-child rather than how-dare-you-adopt-a-black-child.) We’re happy to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other adoptive parents, whether or not we agree with their politics. Illegitimi non carborundum.

Musicon

If they’re angry at you, they must despise my family– one biological son, one adopted black daughter, both raised from infancy in Conservatism. Both witty and realistic and politically involved. My daughter has attracted the annoyance of the racial grievance crowd at college– and laughs. My husband and I bless the day we brought her skinny, dirty little body home. She is poised, lovely, funny, smart and hard working and one of God’s great gifts to us. Forgive us, O Progressives, for knowing happiness.

Is it okay if your article made me tear up a bit? You make me proud to be conservative.

Sarah

I am so discussed by the ignorance of people, I swear if the shoe was on the other foot and a black family was raising a white child, (which I know a family who is) people say nothing about it. I am so proud that you and your family and stepped up to raise this little girl. All your kids are going to be better for it and for the fact that you and your husband are not color blind. YOU choose to love this child not because she is black but because you have a heart. I am so mad right not at the stupidy of people. I remeber when I was a little girl my cousin came to live with us he was have black and half white (more black then white though) anyway this was in the 80s and people would call cps because he was living with us not because my parents did not work hard at raising us not because there were never a reason for it just because we are a white family raising a black 3 yr old little boy who just lost his mama. I can not belive almost 30 years late this crap is still going on. Come on america grow the heck up. If a white family wants to take a child out of poverty then let them, if a Black family mexican or an race wants to do the same we need to take off our rose colored glasses and help these babies not ignore them.

ataraj

I am appalled…just when I thought nothing could shock me these days. Thank you for rescuing your daughter from a life of misery. Now which party is racist? I too am raising my three children in the party of Lincoln and Reagan…so far I know it has worked for my college freshman daughter who tells me story after story of the crazy attempts at liberal indoctrination at the college she attends. She can see right through it!

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

(Note to self: don’t tell Tara when you visit the Kingstons… or bring ear plugs for Naomi!)

Jewish Conservative

Good for you and your family, Mrs. French. And shame on those racist, inhuman twits that you describe.

Jenna

I have a hard time understanding your point. I am a white liberal raising a black child from Africa. I didn’t adopt him to save the world, or to politically clone myself or to annoy Republicans. I did it because I watched his progress after surgery while I was on a mission trip and he needed further care and time to recover. He is now a happy and healthy 4-year-old and the love of my life. I doubt that most of my friends even give it a thought that 1 of my 3 children is black because of the six couples who are my best friends, two are interracial and two others have adopted minority children. The only negative comment I have ever gotten was from a well-intentioned organizer of a church tag sale at an Evangelical church who commented that she hoped he would still love me when he figured out he was different. I didn’t then, and I still don’t, know what that means. But I assure you I have no liberal friends who would be critical of a Republican raising a black child no matter what ideals you indoctrinate her with because I am sure she will be loved and well taken care of. I just wish the Republican Party of today was the same as the Republican Party during Lincoln’s time, because then this little girl would understand open-mindedness, not narrow-mindedness. And would understand what real equality is all about.

Boyd

I agree with Jenna. Today’s Republican Party is a far cry from Lincoln’s. In fact, he would be ashamed of what it has turned into. It has become the party that fights against education funding, that tries to limit voting among minorities and that wants to keep people who love each other from marrying if they happen to be the same sex. The Republican agenda is determined by ALEC and the Koch Bros. and is designed to make sure the rich get richer and the poor continue to struggle. Abe Lincoln wouldn’t recognize his party. In fact, Abe Lincoln these days would likely be a Democrat. So if you are raising your black child with those ideals, welcome to my party.

MissLadyBug

I am just so so so proud of you all. I am an Asian married to a white man for more than 20 years. We raised three kids in the House of God and Party of Lincoln and Reagan. Liberal indoctrination started at high school. Persecuted as a non-compromising goodie conservative girl in the college by her so-called friends , my daughter shines as the bright lamp on the high post.

http://campaignamerica12.blogspot.com/ TeejMac

You and your family are simply awesome. Keep up the great work. We’ve got family on both my and my wife’s sides who are in the same wonderful process you are. Bless you all and just keep it up…

http://www.birthdaypartiesblog.com/ Karen

Lol @ Jenna, talk about narrow-minded. The point is that she is being heckled by narrow -minded people for raising a black child, never mind that this sweet little child has a full tummy at night and is being raised by a family that loves her, which when you think about it is the most important thing.

Cheryl

For over 12 years, my Republican husband and I have provided a home for many children (mostly teenagers) of many different ethnic groups. The gall of someone being angry about that is reprehensible. Many of the children would have been in jail, homeless, or dead if it were not for the guidance and direction shown to them during this critical time in their lives. We opened our lives, our hearts, because of the great God we serve. Very thankful you shared your story, Nancy.

blackbird

God Bless you and your family Nancy.

DO YOU KNOW A HERO?

Not every Marine is a hero. During field training exercises at Parris Island, South Carolina, one drill instructor threw a pine cone among the recruits and yelled, “Grenade!” The trainees immediately turned away and hit the ground. “Just as I suspected,” chided the drill instructor. “Not a hero among you! Didn’t anyone want to jump on that grenade to save the others?”

A little later the instructor tossed another pine cone and yelled, “Grenade!” This time, all the recruits but one jumped on the “explosive.”

“Why are you still standing there?” the DI demanded.

“Sir,” the recruit replied, “someone had to live to tell about it.”

Not everyone is a hero. But then, not every hero jumps on grenades, pulls terrified children from burning buildings, or wears an impressive uniform.

Do you know a hero? I am not asking you to simply name a favorite celebrity. There is a difference.

Do you know a hero? I think perhaps you do. Heroes, you see, can be found in some of the most unexpected places. I knew a young mother who was slowly dying of cancer, yet she put aside her pain long enough every day to smile and laugh with her children. She tried hard every day to bring sunshine into the gloomy hospital room when her family was present. And I watched her husband fill the roles of single parent and financial provider, and still spend every remaining moment sitting at his mate’s bedside, valiantly encouraging and offering whatever hope he could muster.

I knew a talented teacher who could have worked at a far more lucrative profession, yet was determined to stay in a disadvantaged school in the hope that she could make a difference in a difficult situation. She did it for her students.

I’ve known other heroes, too.

You may have noticed – many of the world’s true heroes will never be confused with action figures. Most have never been to battle, competed athletically nor sung in a pop band. But they have faced nearly impossible challenges with unimaginable determination and courage. They found what it takes to bear the unbearable, forgive the unforgivable, love the unlovable, outlast the unendurable or defeat the undefeatable. And often they do it for the sake of others.

Do you know a hero? Maybe one lives in your home. And perhaps one even looks back at you from the mirror. For it is in everyday battles of the spirit that true wars are fought and won. And it is those real-life heroes who give the rest of us hope and remind us that anything is possible.

Do you know a hero? I think you do.

By Steve Goodier: lifesupportsystem (dot com)

Caron McCracken

You mean Jimmy Carter of “the malaise” , weak foreign policy and 18% mortgages? Bill Clinton of oral sex with interns and any thing breathing, made to look good because of a Republican budget-budgeting congress?

Caron McCracken

Pardon me, I mean, and we should know ….” balanced-budgeting”…..

Chris

I have 7 adopted kids from the DCFS system here in Utah. 4 are hispanic. 1 is black. 2 are mixed black, white, hispanic, whoever brought the drugs. I have been stopped (outside of Utah) and asked if all these children are mine. I say yes, and often is asked quite rudly how many fathers my kids have. I count. 1 – 2 – 3 – … ummm, 3 for sure, maybe up to 5? I’ve no idea! I take it with a grain of salt.

I thought the same thing. I was ‘saving’ kids. But they actually saved me. They did not need me. I needed them and I am grateful to have been so blessed.

Caron McCracken

I really don’t think Lincoln would pair up with Nazi sympathizer George Soros who funds most Demcratic an radical left organizers in the US and world. (As well as North Americam Man-Boy Love Association.)

sweetpea

While I understand your annoyance with ignorant comments, I would hope instead of “indoctrinating” your children, whether biological or adopted, you would teach them to be well informed, critical thinkers who can decide for themselves what it is they believe in.

http://www.amazingcatechists.com Lisa Mladinich

This is a wonderful article, Nancy, and the love your daughter is receiving is a great gift that will bear much fruit. I hope that you know that the hate mail you get is actually a sign that you are on the right track. The devil hates love. Doing something profoundly worthwhile and defying the hypocrites who would control and neutralize you at best, and destroy you, at worst, always stirs the hornets’ nest. Their rage is a big fat red flag.

What you and your family are doing is beautiful, pure, and holy. God bless you abundantly, and give you all a deep peace that cannot be shaken by the haters and bigots of this world. Remember, the Democratic party is the party that was pro-slavery and against giving women and minorities the vote. Conservatives, on the other hand, have always fought for the little guy (in the womb, these days), and have encouraged self-reliance, family values, and faith, all of which every kid needs in this tough world.

Deena

I don’t think Lincoln would be of the party that supports gay marriage. Nor do I think he would be of the party that created the welfare class, and the rest of the entitlements of today. Not the man who grew up in a log cabin, in dire poverty, and worked his way from there to the White House. Who had spent less than a year total in schools by the time he was 21, whose main schooling was the Bible and whatever scarce books he could borrow, who took and passed the bar exam without setting foot in a college, through his own studies. I doubt he would think much of many of today’s public schools, with their emphasis on liberal (in the modern sense) indoctrination, the unions, and all the money poured into them, with too many children who never graduate, and too many of those who do still illiterate. Nor do I think he’d mind requiring voter ID (since you have to have ID these days to do almost anything else, and given the amount of fraud in today’s elections). Every state has an available free ID to anyone who needs it. To not require it to exercise a most sacred right and responsibility, exposing ourselves to the risk of fraud and the resulting lack of trust in our institutions is idiotic.

Clifford Mather

Proud conservative, prouder adoptive father of a mixed race 4-year-old daughter (biological mother is white, father Mexican), prouder still a follower of Jesus Christ and constantly thankful for the blessings He has given our family through this child.

Kudos to you, Nancy, and every other adoptive parent out there (liberal or conservative).

Shawn

Certainly– white republicans and democrats have their racist ways and I commend this family; however, making this is a us versus them issue is a bunch of bull. And acting like the Republican party doesn’t have racist issues is a joke. I’m having a hard time believing that only liberals give this family a hard time—-racism is deeply embedded in all white and only is rooted out with deep reflection.

Shawn

Thanks you!

Jim Tills

After three years of marriage, we discovered, like statistically one out of every nine couples, that we could not have children biologically and the only way we could have children was through adoption. After adopting one hispanic/caucasion son and then a Navajo/Shoshone Indian son as well as another hispanic/caucasian daughter, we adopted two black children (fraternal twins). Each has been a challenge and a joy beyond measure. Now, as all of them are grown and on their own, we find them carrying our conservative values and loving and supportive of their adoptive parents.

Many persons made snide comments at my wife and I over the years, but their woeful remarks were as “water off a duck’s back.” We loved and love these children so very much, and our lives have been so richly blessed that persons making such remarks are just deemed by us as being ignorant and we pray for them that their eyes may be opened. The love we gained multiplied exponentially and now as grandchildren are coming, it is doubling beyond measure.

As each of these precious little ones came to us and God allowed us to raise them, love them, and be loved in return, the irreplacable reward for our small sacrifice of bringing them into our home has proven invaluable.

Congratulations to you, Nancy and to David for sharing your love with such an innocent one, as you have done and continue to do, as well as with your other children.

Terry

Blah-blah-blah.

Hannah Rebekah

You go girl!!! I’m proud of you and your family. The liberals have something to learn about love, compassion and the type of character one should have by the example you and your husband have set. There are many families here in Utah….gasp…. Mormons who have also adopted black or mulatto babies that nobody wanted. What I don’t get is how the blacks support the Democrats who support abortion and the blacks of this country are the group with the largest amount of abortions…it’s a genocide and a crime to support those who are behind the killing of their beautiful babies. These same people will protect the whales, the trees, the grass…and on and on…. because they have feelings but don’t blink an eye at getting an abortion. Shame on them and their sickening liberal agenda. The blacks need to adopt a new party…the party of Lincoln and stop believing the lies that have been shoved down their throat.

Amy Jackson/Scarbrough

Nancy, I am so grateful to say I know you and I truly believe in what, as your writings state, you and your family stand for. As far as everyone else goes, I wont say what I would’ve said years ago, but I will think it, and continue applauding you and Yours along your travels. My daughters are teenagers now. I know I taught them right from wrong, taught them to feel comfortable in their own skin and to stand up for what they believe in. (Both of them are like their Momma, I know you remember, and they do stand up and Speak up for what they feel to be right in their hearts) With my oldest getting ready to be able to go and vote for her first time, we have had lots of conversations about what she feels is “right” and “wrong”. That being said, I know she will make the right decision for herself and Our Country, as will I. Please continue with sharing your family experiences, as I look forward to keeping up with you all!! God Bless you Nancy Anderson French!! I wish you and your family well!

http://WarmSouthernBreeze.wordpress.com K.L.B.

Here’s hoping your entry was cathartic. People will always say and do dumb things. All people, everywhere. However, I fail to understand why skin color matters, or even why you chose to grace the subject. Love has no color. If it did, I suppose it would be red, the color of blood that courses through everyone’s veins. While I do not identify with the political party you do, I would imagine that on numerous core issues, we would have significant common ground. But again, I fail to see how party politics has anything to do with love of humanity. BTW, we – you and I – have at least one strong common denominator… we’re Southerners, and closer than you think.

Charles Hardy

Most Africans would tell one that there is a lot of diversity on their continent; another tribal groups culture might be more different from an orphan’s birth culture than Southern Republican culture would be.

Liz

Americans now intermarry with, adopt and raise, work for or employ, coach, admire, vote for, etc. etc. etc. people from every race and every mixed race. We don’t have a problem with it. Our president and a few others still have difficulties with this. They need to get over it and jump in with the rest of us. Liberals are such a throwback to medieval times on this issue.

Liz

Now, if you had adopted a liberal, that is a problem. But no one is born a liberal, right? It’s a slow and painful process. Conservatism comes much more naturally, especially following a happy childhood.

deango

We’re a white conservative couple raising two black children (four kids total). Our teenage son is alive because his birth mother went to have him aborted, but was told she was too far along. Later, because he was born 2 weeks after his projected birth date, very put out, she exclaimed in front of my wife, “Damn, I could of had him aborted.” A decade and a half later, he is very virantly

deango

(sic) anti-abortion. For him, it’s a matter of life. He’s a very happy kid and can’t for a second imagine there’s any justification for abortion. Conservative? You bet he is.

http://theczech.wordpress.com Havlová

When I hear this self-congratulatory rhetoric around transracial and/or international adoption, I always pause and think. The self-congratulations typically come from middle, upper-middle, and upper-class heterosexual white families who have adopted a child who is of color and/or born in another country. There is typically lots of applause from other whites for their “good deed”. The assumption being that a middle-to-upper class white upbringing must be superior to other kinds of upbringing, and that by allowing a normally-inferior individual into the white club, a meritorious act has taken place. This is part of what is called the “White Savior Complex.” http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/ It is a relic from colonialism, when whites felt it was their mission to spread across the planet and “improve” the “backwards” races. The colonial mindset is still very present with us, as when this author insinuates adventurism with phrases like: “poverty stricken African tribal area” and their savior status by rescuing a “starving, abandoned girl” from such a terrible place.

Then I start to wonder about the big picture. That girl has a biological mother and father. Where are they? Why are they so poor? Why couldn’t they keep their child? Do they have rights? Isn’t there any value to the culture she was born into and taken away from? Why are so many African nations “poverty-stricken”? How are the world’s dominant countries implicated in this poverty?

The right to raise your own children is a fundamental human right, and a pillar of the Reproductive Justice movement. Yet it is easier for white Americans to reframe themselves not as colonialists with serious responsibilities to other countries we have impoverished, but as pure, loving saviors who just want to help the children. Do we really have a right to take these children that trumps our responsibility to ensure that all mothers enjoy the right to raise the children they birthed?

Starving or fed – eh, it’s so arrogant to assume one is better than the other.

A lot of children in Africa have parents who are dead. It’s good to make sure a child does not have fit parents before adopting – and fit should be a pretty low standard. But let’s not fail to be families for those who have none.

Name an African country that the U.S. has colonized lately. If you want to stabilize a poverty-stricken country, you’ll probably want to ensure that the laws there punish criminals of all types – and that those in power blindly prosecute those laws, showing favoritism to no one. Prosecute those, especially, who use international aid to inflate their own personal wealth.

You’ll want to make sweeping cultural changes in the sex department, because out-of-wedlock births are a significant cause of poverty anywhere you go. Mom and small child are not a viable economic unit generally speaking. Also do changes in the sex department because multiple simultaneous partners spread HIV and kill breadwinners in their prime. And quite possibly change insecticide laws, because malaria also kills vast numbers of people.

You’ll accomplish most of these best by missionizing, because people who have been bought by Jesus are transformed from the inside out – sustainable transformation. Then, absolutely, you’ll have many more parents nurturing their own children, many more neighbors nurturing the children of those unable.

The arrogance of the assumptions of the so enlightened that they will not reach out to embrace a fellow human being in the ways that will matter most to him, that in fact they will belittle anyone who does…. Every few years, you might sit up in your armchair and count people who have been measurably helped by that brand of help.

Theodora

All she is doing is adding to a problem, all this child will be is an adult with a destructive identity crisis at best and subsequent mental illness at worst, what a selfish self absorbed women she is. I have seen it so many times.

len

Like all utopians, you jump to conclusions. You are so sure that motivation to write her piece was to brag. I think it highly probable that she wrote the piece in response to kind vitriolic remarks made in HUffinton Post a al what you would expect from Farakan or Shartpon or Black Social Workers who oppose such adoption.

Then the typical utopian nonsense that poverty in Africa is result of the West. What about Tawain,Singapore. There is such a thing as culture which explains why a devasted Europe recovered; why China and India are making progress.

The options for that child in an orphanage(we also have such in the West) might have been death, or stunted growth. But utopians like yourself do not pay attention to the concrete but are in love with your ideas how life should be rather than facts on the ground. That utopian vision of course is driving spirit behind Nazism, Communism, and Castroism.

Blacks were doing better in Rhodesia,now Zimbabie, then now under totalitarian black leadership for 50 years or so. The blacks took over a wealthy country in South Africa and poverty is worse than before except for the now black ruling class.

The you raise the issue “Do we have right to take these children” What does that mean. Clearly, you don’t mean kidnapping children or taking them into slavery as is done in Africa which is indigenous to there and not adopted from Western Culture. The particular child was in orphanage. So there you go again, ignoring the facts in favor of utopian ideas. You mimic Lenin’s phrase about justifying terror by analogizing to breaking eggs to make omlet–utopia. So it is you and those like you who have no concern over that child; it is only your ideas that matter–the hell with reality. The totalitarian mindset wrapped in concern for the perfect.

What do Americans have to do with colonizing Africa or China(many adoptions come from there). Apparantly you prefer N Korea because it was not colonized whereas S Korea was a ward of US and saved by them and developed much a better society than the N Korea which was free from Western Influence. It is okay: North Korean starve or have stunted growth. Fault of the West? Just imagine if Us did not intervene in 1950 in Korea; that you would all of Korea like the North and they would have all the right to raise their children and in a starving country.

“A right to raise your own children”. How does that apply to children in orphanages or parents who don’t wish to raise to sell them into prostitution.

John Kagen

I’ve been living for several years in Africa, and I have just a short sentence for Havlová. In the time it took you to write your “intellectual” ramblings sitting in your chair in your affluent place, enjoying your access to healthcare and everything a modern world can, around 100 streetchildren around the world died in poverty or by violence.

So take your Obama-university intellectualism and the critical race theory you peddle (really neo-marxism) and showe it where the sun don’t shine, while the rest of us try to do something about poverty.

I also mention after reading your references that I have known many African families who came here to study-middle and upper class from their native African Countries. And I found them all to despise that native black cul;ture in this country. IF it their rhetoric came from a white person, ‘racist” would spring from the likes progressives. They are not racists or self-hating because of skin color; they are “culturists”–a word I just coined. And if for some reason they were to leave their children with a family, it would be white who shared their Western values, enlightment values except in the unusual circumstance of people with black skin color like Tom Sowell, Walter Williams or Justice Thomas.

Heather Conner

@Havlova While you’re pontificating over the ” White Savior Complex”, this lady is actually loving, clothing, and feeding an actual child who was really and truly in need of loving parents and a safe and stable home. If there was some indication that this adoption was for show and that this beautiful little girl was some sort of trophy, then you might have some sort of a point. The fact that the author is only explaining her family’s situation because vile, racist comments were made about her family based on a few pictures only further suggests that this was not one of those “look at how cultural I am” adoptions. Afterall, Nancy isn’t a Hollywood Liberal.

What I find interesting is how in your little spiel you point out how whitey should butt out and stop trying to help needy children, that whitey is the primary cause of all the evils that have befallen these kids, and that whitey needs to get more involved in solving the underlying problems that cause these children to be needy. You can’t have it both ways, friend. Hands off or hands on. Make up your mind.

While you’re doing that, this family will be busy loving each other and making their little corner of the world a brighter, happier place.

dks

PC as can be.

Blog Goliard

Well then. Nice to know that Nancy’s imagining all those comments on HuffPo and that hate mail.

Who are you going to believe…Jenna, or your own lying eyes?

Pat

This is freakin’ hilarious. You took on the challenge. You knew the backlash. DEAL WITH IT!!! I’m a proud conservative and would never whine about what others think regarding my personal choices. You made your bed, if you don’t like the way it looks…change it and stop whining. You give liberals reason to hate conservatives.

Jeff Stebbins

My wife and I (white) adopted an abandoned (Asian) child from another country, while we were living and serving there. We did not ‘rescue’ her from one culture to another–rather, we brought her into our home from certain hunger, homelessness, and likely child slavery and/or sex trade. We do not think our culture better than another, for I was born and raised in that culture before moving to this one. We DO think that life with parents, a sibling, decent food & clothing & housing & medical care IS an improvement upon the prospects she had at 5 months. Although the adoption was costly, and although the past 15 years have had many challenges (e.g., attachment disorder), we do not congratulate ourselves. Rather, we are grateful to our 2nd daughter for all that she has added to our family, and all that she has taught us about the Heavenly Father adopting people into His family by grace. Then, when we read thoughts such as that above, we are baffled by the possibility that some may hold political arguments to be of higher value than the lives of needy persons of any color.

“Starving or fed – eh, it’s so arrogant to assume one is better than the other.”

Robert L.

Exposing her to the party of Carter and Clinton could be construed as child abuse.

http://therobopinion.net Robert Barrimond

The problem isn’t you being a Republican. It’s your party’s long and problematic history with racism. The party of Lincoln dominated the South when the racists in the Democratic party, the Dixiecrats, left when Civil Rights legislation was passed. They all went into the loving embrace of the Party of Lincoln. And it has dominated the South ever since. Not coincidentally blacks who overwhelming voted Republican went solid Democrat. Nixon’s infamous Southern Strategy has been a hallmark of your party’s politics for the rest of the century. Willie Horton. Welfare Queen. Reagan’s infamous statement “I believe in state’s rights” in Phila. Miss. With Ken Mehlman’s apology, I had cautiously hoped you didnt tolerate racists on your midst. But With the advent of Birtherism, “Muslim” etc. and the forced acknowldgements of publicly admitted racists at the NRO, your most respected publication, I’m far from assured.

That’s the real problem with your party. It’s stubborn aid and comfort to people who hate me, my wife, my son, and yes your beautiful daughter for who they think we are.

Robert L.

Good lord. Are you for real? “Against education funding”? No, more like against the vast wastefulness of the American public education system that spends more and produces less than our peers in order to line the pockets of union leaders instead of educating our children. Taking away minorities voting rights? Seriously? No, more like maintaining the integrity of the voting process that the criminal leftists have destroyed over the years by ensuring the same rules apply to everyone. That’s called fairness and legality. As for Lincoln being a “democrat” today, that’s the most laughable thing I’ve heard yet. Lincoln embodied the individual, can-do, work hard spirit, unlike the government-is-God, entitlement slavery that liberals love to promote. The Dem of today is nothing like the Dem of the Kennedy era that your ilk likes to invoke. If Kennedy were alive, he would be a Republican.

Nicholas Sackett

Dear Deena, I hope that some day you will grow such that you can realize the narrow-mindedness of your comment. May I suggest that some day you take a look at Milton Friedman’s book “Free to Choose.” There is a path toward freedom and opportunity and you are not on it. Your friend, Nicholas

Nicholas Sackett

Please edit my comment and say Boyd instead of Deena

jeff S

Nice. It is so sad that so many on the left cannot see that treating minorities as if they are incapable of success without government demanding set asides and doling out money left and further left is itself racist. Conservatism does not hold all the answers but it’s superior for helping people out of poverty, if they want out, and keeping them out. Thanks again for providing another example of “Progressives” being neither tolerant nor open minded and that if you disagree with one it must be because of something nefarious.

missy

Nancy, this article left me speachless and in tears. I don’t even know what to say, but I wanted to comment here to show my support of you and your beautiful family. I’m am so discouraged by the trend that we should be ashamed to be conservative. I have found my Liberal friends to be much less tolerant of those who might be different, whether gay, different race, etc. This article simply made me very, very sad…

Bonny Batman

If you pardon my asking – Did you ask anyone of these self rightous Alinsky misguided impressed with their own importance — bigots – To fund the raising of this little girl??? If not, and I’m sure you didn’t — Then it really is none of anyone elses business — IS IT? Good luck and keep the freedom rolling. Thanks

Phil

One of the things that bugs me the most about this is their arrogant, bigoted attitude that the democratic party has the best interests of African Americans at heart, when it’s actually the exact opposite. Many of the democrats foment class warfare, resentment and anger by demonizing the upper class, and also by falsely accusing conservatives of being “anti-poor” and “anti-black”. Most conservatives, from what I can see, seek to try to eliminate these kinds of divisions by trying to treat everyone the same & not trying to feed on the resentments and bigotry of the past. Men like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton try to keep these old resentments and bigotry alive instead of moving forward and trying to heal the wounds of the past. This healing can be best accomplished by trying to put everyone on an equal footing and status by making no distinctions with regards to race. I also see the conservatives as more focused on helping people help themselves rather than by keeping them dependent on the government and on others. Helping someone to be in a better position to support themselves & teaching them honesty and integrity, & loving them is what is always in their best interest. That is what the French family is trying to do with their children, and shame on those who accuse them falsely. There is way too much hatred, demonizing, and bigotry in politics and religion these days and I see much more of this in the liberals than I do the conservatives. Conservatives can also be kinder to liberals and others who disagree with us, as far as disagreeing without being disagreeable, but that is challenging when the person who disagrees with you is being a total twit by being totally disagreeable.

As a black conservative I applaud what you have done and are doing…providing things a child really needs (regardless of race)…love, compassion, a family, to be taught integrity and other values…these things have nothing to do with race…every child needs them. Your beautiful child will grow up and NOT be dependent on the gov…and liberals hate YOU for doing that to her. But God loves you and that’s really all that counts. God bless you and your awesome fam!

hrhdhd

Mexican is not a race. You are raising a white child who has a Hispanic and whatever else (German? Irish?) ethnic background.

Jenni

Hi Nancy,

I don’t think it’s a problem for a conservative White family to raise a Black child. My only advice is that, when the time is right, you prepare her for world that she will face. You have been able to see past race and that’s awesome, but as a 25-year-old African America woman I can assure you that my experiences in predominately white education settings from elementary through my current graduate school have taught me that everyone can’t. Everyone won’t understand why she has a White family and those who can’t see past race, both white and black kids and adults, will say nasty things to her. As she gets older she may not even feel comfortable telling you the things that people say. But if you can prepare her and continue to shower her with love I’m sure she’ll make it through! Good luck!!

Belvedere

I would hazard that you are not the first to have any single thought bouncing around in your skull. Thanks for the reading list so we can go look up what you think you think.

Belvedere

@Pat Proud — yes. Conservative — doubtful. Asshat — absolutely.

SGT Ted

Aaaaand along comes Jenna to confirm the authors post about certain nasty ideological and racial bigots who style themselves “liberal Democrats” with her “I just wish the Republican Party of today was the same as the Republican Party during Lincoln’s time, because then this little girl would understand open-mindedness, not narrow-mindedness” comment.

There’s nothing more narrowminded than todays “liberals” like Jenna, who think that women, blacks and poor people all belong to Democrats. If they don’t stay on the collectivist Democrat Party plantation that divvies up power and goodies based on what skin color you are or whats in between your legs, you are called “race traitors” or “female impersonators” or some other vile, bigotry is directed your way for daring to dissent from the Party of Slavery. This little black girl will grow up to be a strong, successful, conservative INDIVIDUAL and not a black skinned victim for you and your nasty racist, sexist Democrat Party to exploit with your racist hatred that demean blacks by painting them as helpless victims who need white Democrats to take care of them.

Ray Blevins

When your children end up as contributing citizens to our society and the liberals choke on their government centered policies, your children will be grateful for your raising them, as will the rest of society. Sorry you have to deal with disgusting people like these, but I expect we will see the battle between good and evil escalate even more.

carol

Perhaps you should mention the shirt you made your four-year-old wear?

jason

I hate the tone of ” we’ve been getting hate mail from liberals who are deeply offended that a white family would raise a black child.” No you haven’t been getting hate mail from liberals, you’ve been getting hate mail from idiots who might happen to be liberal. I’m sure you’ve also gotten some hate mail from idiots who happen to be conservative. As a professional writer, I wish you’d be more careful about painting with such broad strokes. The majority of liberals probably applaud you for adopting a child, I know I feel that way even if I don’t agree with your politics.

Sagrav

As a liberal person, let me just say that I don’t give a flip about the color of your child’s skin either way. I also don’t care that you’re going to teach your child your values; that’s what parents do. It’s silly of you to equate some nasty, anonymous comments online with the attitude of every person that subscribes to a particular set of political beliefs.

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

Jason, sorry my tone offended you – - and you are right that there are idiots on both sides of the political spectrum. The reason I brought this back to politics is because that’s why they are angry — they are angry because I’m raising Naomi in a Republican household. Does that make sense? I’m writing accurately. I didn’t say, “All liberals feel this way.” Rather, I said, “we’ve been getting hate mail from liberals who are deeply offended …” That’s accurate and true. But obviously most Democrats don’t feel this way…. I’m shocked so many do. (I’m shocked ANY do.)

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

Sagrav, You are right that there are idiots on both sides of the political spectrum. The reason I brought this back to politics is because that’s why they are angry — they are angry because I’m raising Naomi in a Republican household. In other words, I don’t think they’d be upset if I were a Liberal woman adopting a black child and teaching her liberal ideas and philosophies. Does that make sense? I’m definitely not trying to paint all liberals as falling into this category… Sorry if I did.

http://therobopinion.net Robert Barrimond

Nancy, As long as the GOP cosies up to racists, it’s going to field the anger, distrust, etc. I am far more anti-Republican than pro-Democrat. This has very little to do with family. Living wages, healthcare and education is as much about family as any social issue. But When you make party a family and racial issue, you invite on the Internet a firestorm of emotional stupidity. Frankly, I think you were being a bit naive. The Internet is ROUGH.

I forgot to add this to my earlier post: “And no matter how good YOU are, you don’t excuse them or their behavior.”

Sagrav

Thanks for the reply! For the record, I’m sorry that a bunch of online posters condemn your adoption of a child. I think I disagree with you on many (most?) political points, but implying that you’re somehow hurting your child absurd and awful.

Good luck to you and your family!

http://www.codadesign.net Christopher Allen

Thank for writing this. As the parent of an adopted AA girl, I can relate to a lot of your words, though I haven’t gotten any hate mail for it.

dyz

I’m kind of at a loss as to how people identified you. You’re not mentioned by name in the article or in the video. Also, I believe John McCain has a Black daughter. I think he’s kinda Republican, IIRC.

Former Socialist

Leftists are the most racist people out there and the project it on us all the time to deflect attention from their own racism.

RoadKingCarl

Tara, you are a ”liberal moron”, very funny!!

anonymous

The New Right Wing fashion icon will be a black baby you wear around your neck to ward off accusations of racism.

journeyman mage

This woman is sadly self-deluding if she believes the modern Republican party would accept Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan — today both Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan have more in common with modern liberals than they do with modern conservatives in the Republican party. Even esteemed conservative George R. Wills is dismayed by the degree of close-minded conservatism in the Republican party. Modern Republicans are the people who joyously cheered at the idea of someone without health insurance dying; these are the people trying to define single parenthood as a form of child abuse specifically to make women reluctant to divorce their husbands for whatever reason.

For this woman to raise a child of color but vote modern Republican is exactly the same as being gay and voting for the criminalization of homosexuality, the same as being female but voting to rescind women’s right to vote and to hold jobs, the same as being Jewish but voting to outlaw all religions except the more anti-Semitic forms of Christianity. She even boasts that she wants to teach her black daughter to support the intensifying discrimination against blacks and women, i.e. vote Republican (promoting through indifference worsening discrimination is a tenet of the modern Republican platform).

All that’s necessary for injustice to continue is for good people to do nothing. Or, in this case, for people like this woman to raise their children to support their oppressors.

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

Dear Anonymous, I’ve not been accused of racism UNTIL I adopted.

blackbird

Thanks for the link John.

ChristianPinko

The fact that you’re raising a black child doesn’t change the reality that white racism is the major animating force behind American conservatism.

Kristen

I have friends (mormon) who have adopted multiple black children (one eight, the other four) because they weren’t able to have biological children. oh my, they are going to be so messed up. doing band, going to college, work ethic, upper middle class in a stable religious home with two parents of the opposite gender who love and cherish them . . . . gee, such a ruined life. they would have been so much better off with their teenage drop-out drug addict single welfare mothers. ;-p

lilli

How is it you would be getting hate mail when the picture and article has no mention who the little girls parents were. This is race baiting, nobody care what color daughter you adopted..no one can down on Madonna for raising a AA child. I happen to know a lot of white people raising black or 1/2 black children, no problems..maybe you just live in the racist part of the country.

lilli

Using her child for a political statement is wrong!!

lilli

Nancy why didn’t you mention what was written on you little girls t-shirt? Nothing in the article says she was adopted..and your name is no where in the article. This happened 2 months ago why bring it up now and not at the time it happened?

lilli

I’m shocked that you used your daughter to make a political statement by putting her in that shirt and not expecting some blow back, it was not because as you say “chocolate brown” skinned.

http://catholicanuck.blogspot.com uxordepp

Apparently hungry and abandoned children will just have to fend for themselves until the problems of their countries of origin are all solved?

Deena

Thanks for the correction! Saved me from a snarky reply to you ;P

zar

Good job! Now raise a gay child. Without stoning him to death, preferably.

Brian from Bakersfield

Unfortunately, “haters gonna hate” as the saying goes–You just keep raising those kids right, as you are, and ignore the ignorant and small-minded who would condemn a beautiful child to a terrible life or possible early death for no good reason. God bless!

myj

Thank Jenna, You the only one so far that make sense and not hateful. The people on Huffinton Post was offended about the T-shirt, and the reason is that most Not All teaparty are very racist. The most hateful comments I read are from a conservative blog or web-site, have the most hateful comments I ever seen… Reading some of these comments are worst than HP…

Helena Constantine

I guess you’ve never encountered any racism among Republicans?

myj

Thanks … best post!

http://homeschooling911.com/blog/ Anne Galivan

Typical ridiculous, unbiblical comment. Not indoctrinate your children? If I tell my children not to steal, lie or commit murder, is that not “indoctrination?” Of course it is.

It is obvious that this mother IS teaching her to be informed, critical thinkers. That’s why she’s raising them Republican…as I have raised my children who are intelligent, accomplished, conservative, caring, living pure lives, etc.

One last thing, God COMMANDS us to indoctrinate our children. My children were born with eternal souls that will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. I am commanded by God to teach them His Word morning, afternoon, evening, every day that they are in my home. I have most certainly “indoctrinated” my children to love the Lord, believe the Lord and seek him in all things. That is my responsibility and I will answer to God for it, as will every parent.

http://homeschooling911.com/blog/ Anne Galivan

That was an interesting link. How pathetic to see the liberals quoted as saying they want to get rid of Bush, yet they acknowledge that it is his initiative that is saving millions of lives. It’s reminiscent of the way that black Democrats fight to keep abortion that is killing a much greater number of their people, proportionally speaking. But of course, that is what the Nazi sympathizer who started Planned Parenthood wanted…to get rid of the poor, especially the black poor, via contraception and ultimately abortion.

And of course, as the article discussed, the Democrats couldn’t WAIT to get rid of the abstinence programs in Africa, in spite of the fact that the ONLY protection against STD’s (including HIV/AIDS) is abstinence until marriage and then faithfulness within marriage. And yes, I am so unfashionable that I will point out that the homosexual lifestyle brings with it not only a much higher risk of AIDS but also numerous other physical and mental pathologies. But then, I am SO out-of-touch with modern thinking.

And I shouldn’t even bother to point out how other people’s refusal to live moral, biblical lives is taking money out of my pocket and those of other’s who don’t agree with or practice those lifestyles.

myj

True… Look I am white with a Black child!!!… I have been on a college with kids raised like that… They would either hate their own race or rebell against their adopted parent… Nothing wrong with raising a child from another race, but don’t make a issue out of it. Let the child grow up to be what God have her to be…

http://homeschooling911.com/blog/ Anne Galivan

If no one else will, I will call you out on this…the statements you made in your comment are out-and-out lies. Not half-truths. Lies. Anyone that has been really paying attention and has a moral bone in their body will see these lies for what they are. What’s really sad is that you probably believe your lies.

myj

No she didn’t mention the t-shirt and that what caused the negative comments on HP

myj

I was offended by that statement too ,chocolate brown” skinned..

PJ Lewis

They might have thought they were rescuing the little one, but in reality, both the little one and the family all have been rescued and are now in a better place!

What is more fulfilling than watching your child (biological or other – it doesn’t matter how she became “your” child) grow in happiness, silliness, intelligence and in so many ways!

I read somewhere that happiness is a twin – it is meant to be shared…

Thank you for sharing a little of your happiness with us.

abb3w

“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital, producing mutual benefits. The error is in assuming that the whole labor of community exists within that relation.”

LMA

I’m a liberal raising biracial children. What you’re doing is wonderful. It’s clear that your children are raised in love. For the thousands of a–holes who’ve criticized and insulted you for raising your adopted daughter in a conservative household, please know that there are many, many more like me who applaud you. Don’t lose heart! Love should have no color and no political affiliation.

LMA

Aaaand, along comes “SGT Ted” to prove Jenna’s point. Right back atcha, “SGT.” If that’s what you really are…

http://None Dan the man

Racism will persist forever as a racist agenda with liberals,albeit in the modern vogue.

Neil

You’re not unfashionable…you’re a bigot and a liar, and so stupid and lazy that you have to get all your morals from a disgusting piece of filth called the bible instead of ever learning anything yourself. That’s always fashionable amongst conservative christians. You go get your baseless feelings of superiority on, sister!

Neil

I really appreciate how the author finds a way to take a few comments off the internet, and clownishly wave them around to convict all liberals of being narrow minded racists. You’ll only convince the other “true believers” with your tired, self-righteous schtick.

I’m glad you’ve adopted a needy child…that’s wonderful. I don’t know a single liberal who would say anything bad about that, although sadly I still know several conservatives who would make all kinds of mean jokes (in private). Unfortunately, you also want to use this as an opportunity to bash unnamed “liberals” over the head, as if your one action eliminates the problem that conservatives have long had with social issues, or as if your internet trolls are the whole of liberal perspectives.

It highlights the main problem I have with most conservatives on a personal level….you are ignorant and incredibly, rabidly judgemental, and proud of it, and you have a real and visible hatred for anyone who doesn’t think like you. You’re a liar and an opportunistic hack, and expect way too much credit for your political dogmas, just because you do some good things, too…just like every one of your leaders since after Eisenhower. Deal with it.

R Cook

Thank you French family!!

http://heirsinhope.blogspot.com Alessandre

@ hrhdhd It’s possible the child is of mixed race if the biological Mexican parent was indigenous. Then, the child would be Asian & Caucasian. But thank you so much for pointing out that those of Spanish descent are not a different race. My mother was Portuguese & my skin is dark olive. So many people look at me as if I’m confused when I indicate that I am white. A technician once changed it to black & I had to ask why I was suddenly given a different heritage.

And French family, thank you for loving your beautiful adopted daughter & for indoctrinating her to follow Christ & to be a Republican. You are all so blessed to be together.

http://heirsinhope.blogspot.com Alessandre

@Havlova – why are so many African nations so impoverished? For the same reason so many Latin American & Mid-Eastern nations are: Corruption within the state. When warlords, the military & members of the state steal as much as they can & destroy communities, poverty is the result. Nations & charities send huge amounts to Africa each year. Missionaries & other charitable organizations provide massive amounts of help. But until the state stops making war & dealing corruptly, poverty will grow.

Some answers are so simple if we will just look at what is really happening but that means not reading the theories that leave out reality. Imagine trying to raise your children while fleeing for your life. Imagine trying to raise food & then have it all stolen to feed the armies that will destroy your community. Imagine having your children kidnapped & forced to kill their neighbours. Poverty would be your lot as well. Thank God the French family rescued their daughter. They already plan to teach her about her birth culture. She can explore & choose for herself now that she has the opportunity to live & thrive, rights far more fundamental than living in ones own culture.

(I write as a woman who had to leave her birth culture because of war & corruption. I know enough about that country to be deeply grateful to be an American citizen.)

Mark Evansa

I’m currently reading ‘Blacklash’ by Doreen Borelli. It is truly amazing how firmly many white liberals want to place all blacks in a particular box. Now I see that it even exztends to include who should raise them!

Lilly

Liberals are flaming and cruel racists. Now you know. They are as skin obsessed as the segregationist creeps they replaced. They just sketched up a new order of race hate and diversity doctrines to justify their hate in this post segregation era. I had hoped we would be able to ditch the race hate for power mob after we knocked down the doctrinal, legal and institutional walls of segregation, but alas, a new and improved smash mouth klan arose in it’s place. Hook your daughter up with mixed race families who are not racists. There are plenty of them. Given liberalism’s hepped up racism and racist violence these days, I would not be guilted into putting her into a black school. Let her deal with all that hate when she is older so she won’t be wounded and shaped by the hate as she forms her own idenity. She’s adorable, by the way!

RobbyS

I’ve looked at Mia Love’s site. Quite an impressive person. I was amused by the look on her face while her husband was testifying to her virtues. I bet she was thinking that he had better remember that the next time they have an argument!

Chicago Nick

God bless you and your family and best of luck to you, we’re out here in the weeds ‘picking em off’ one by one and by November the future will look much brighter for all and the lefties can apologize and thank us all later when they’re off the unemployment and welfare rolls…

Chicago Nick

“I really appreciate how the author finds a way to take a few comments off the internet, and clownishly wave them around”

Too busy to read or is it that leftist education? There were literally 1000′s of them and if that’s just a few to you than you must have failed freaking math too. So that’s o for 2 courses, were you the weed dealer or crack dealer in your school or what? Go back upstairs and tell mom and mom goodnight and go play with the kiddies.

RobbyS

Modern liberals are more famous for their political correctness than for their tolerance for other view points.

Jo

Jenni, Nastiness is color-blind – it takes many shapes and forms. It’s an unfortunate reality in our flawed humanity that makes someone try to feel superior to another person by putting him down….too fat, too old, too ugly, slow, politically or religiously “unacceptable”. It goes on and on. And as you so wisely stated, it’s those who love us unconditionally that give us the strength to move beyond the nastiness and embrace the beauty of life.

RobbyS

As a retired teacher, I heard a lot about “critical-thinking,” enough to know that those who use the term are not thinking about Socrates but about Dewey. They mean that the child must be raise to doubt every traditional belief and to become a member of the “enlightened” tribe in the universities, which have become seminaries of liberalism.

RobbyS

This is no more than a slander. The only truth of its lies in the fact that Blacks almost universally have joined with other Americans, such as Jews, who belong to that part that believes with almost religious fervor that government power must be concentrated in the national capital. To be blunt, they have no faith in the concept of federal government, which is the basis for the 1789 Constitution. Furthermore, they seem to have little faith in the separation of powers, but have put their trust in a benevolent executive branch.

Carlos Perera

“Racism is deeply embedded in all white[s] and only is rooted out with deep reflection.” Gee, Shawn, the first deep reflection you should consider having, to discern racism, is your own in a mirror. What a deeply bigoted and unfounded comment to make; I warrant that, unless you have been able to read the minds of all white people all over the world, you got that little bit of . . . cultural-anthropological wisdom from the Cultural Marxist ether of academia or the left-wing blogosphere.

As you might discern from my name I’m Hispanic: I can count the number of times I’ve been racially/ethnically insulted by white people in my entire life (and I’m 58 years old) on the fingers of one hand; but I would need to descend to the cellular level to count on body parts the number of times I’ve been insulted in that way by _black_ people _who don’t even know me well enough to dislike me_! Heck, I have to ignore racist remarks on a nearly weekly basis in the school system for which I work as an educational physical therapist . . . and sometimes these are made in front of faculty and staff, or even school-resource police officers!

When Democrats and other Leftists thrown out the “racist” canard at Republicans, psychological projection is the best explanation.

Antiobamunist

I have been scrolling through these posts and I see many Liberal / Progressive minded people making ignorant hate filled accusations against Republicans, Conservatives and anyone else who doesn’t subscribe to their flawed ideology. I chose your Post as a stopping point to make a Reply, not because your ignorance and deluded thought process is any worse than others posting here, but because I cannot fathom that my faith in Intelligent thought and debate could be overshadowed by the sheer number of Useful Idiots capable of such irrationality. I could spend numerous keystrokes citing the many Democrats who reveled in their Racism, from Democrat Senator Robert Byrd to Democrat Senator Al Gore Sr., both proud segregationists who voted against the Civil Rights Act while Republicans in the House and Senate Voted to support Democrat President LBJ in passing the Legislation, but I understand that a Fact to a Liberal is like Sunlight to a Vampire. I will simply say this to you and every other hater, prove your baseless hate filled accusations of Racism or go back to Democrat Underground where your ignorance will be celebrated, not looked upon with pity .

Korou

Speaking as a liberal, I have to say, good for you! I trust that what you say about what your child’s life would have been like if you hadn’t adopted her is true, and I am quite sure that you do love her. For this you have my unconditional admiration. Now you deal with this: the party that you love is working to make sure that your daughter will be disadvantaged, deprived and discriminated against because of the colour of her skin. If you’re happy about that, or if you think that your daughter won’t be affected by this and you don’t care about the other black people who will be, then there’s no more to be said.

Nam Marine

I think I just threw up in my mouth!

davisbr

Our foster son was 9 when arrived from Ethiopia, through friends in our church.

I could tell you about some of the racist comments we heard along the way (white parents with a black teenager …sigh, you *do* stand out in some settings …but almost always, he never related (more often than not, he didn’t even notice) and I was the one who’d seethe at best, and react on occasion. But I won’t. Who cares.

…because …he’s simply the best. (And now a talented musician and singer, with a degree in theology, and working on his MBA:). His friend’s parents – and he was *very* popular in our group: happy and effusive and caring …a reliable, sensible, and grounded BFF to a good many other kids – the parents all envied us the lack of teenage histrionics they were enured to with their own. (I dunno how many times I winced and shook my head at over-hearing some clueless parent saying “Why can’t you be more like Josh?” …and smiling – to myself – about the application of the old adage about apples not falling far from the tree.)

Parenting is color blind. All those people …they’re just hateful idiots. Totally clueless. They have no idea about what love is. None.

And looking back now, they were an insignificant distraction, that faded as time passed.

But one last thing: I dooooo wish he’d get on with marriage, and get us some grandkids.

Chris W

Ahhh… tolerance rears its beautiful head once again!

Chris W

I guess you’re never encountered any among Democrats?

Chris W

Conservatives: “All people can succeed if they work hard and make good choices.” Liberals: “Minorities are too stupid to succeed without our benevolence.”

sarah

i’m a far left liberal who is very happy for you, your daughter and family. i am also an adoptee brought up in a reagan republican household!

also wouldn’t the liberals not care about a mixed race family, it seems like the conservatives would be against this.

LaRue

Kindly explain, if you can, what is “infamous” about states rights? We were founded as the united (small ‘u’) States of America. A collection of sovereign states. It’s a looonnnnng stretch from there to racism, is it not?

Nate Whilk

Jenna wrote, “I just wish the Republican Party of today was the same as the Republican Party during Lincoln’s time, because then this little girl would understand open-mindedness, not narrow-mindedness.”

“But I assure you I have no liberal friends who would be critical of a Republican raising a black child no matter what ideals you indoctrinate her with because I am sure she will be loved and well taken care of. ” Except for that imagined “narrow-mindedness” which you deprecate. I’m sure you have no liberal friends like that. You don’t need any. You ARE that friend.

Nate Whilk

“Today’s Republican Party is a far cry from Lincoln’s. ” But today’s Democratic Party has a number of resemblances to the Northern Democrats of Lincoln’s day. Unwilling to serve in the Civil War (paid people to do it for them), unwilling to fight it at all (would’ve accepted the Confederacy), treating Lincoln like garbage and calling him a tyrant (like Dems did to Bush), comparing him to an ape (Bush again) http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/cartoon/monkey.html , and more.

Johnny

She’s absolutely adorable.

Colleen

I don’t have a problem with it. And, I have a hard time understanding why anyone would. We need to understand that the Internet is faceless. For all we know people writing comments on news sites may be ten years old or taking their daily overdose of vodka.

http://desperateirishhousewife Susan Vigilante

Eleven years ago we adopted our daughter. She is very dark, and no one has ever guessed where she’s from. I am a white-as-a -sheet redhead. (She always referred to me as “pink.”) I guess we’ve been lucky. We’ve had the occasional moment of confusion from outsiders (“Honey, are you lost? Where’s your Mommy?” “She’s right here!”), but no outright hostility. I guess there are enough adoptive families where we live that no one thinks it is all that unusual. Recently though I was at a writers’ conference. An agent treated me to the standard “Republicans are all racists” speech. i showed him my daughter’s picture and sai, “I’m a Republican.” His reaction: Nothing. A shrug. He was still right, and I was still a racist. There’s not getting through to some people. p.s. My daughter is from Cambodia. And she is GORGEOUS!!!

http://www.calicodreams.net Mary Kelso

oooh…good one.

http://kolembo.wordpress.com kenny

I am a Gay Kenyan man. Seeing foreigners adopting our babies is difficult. When they are white it’s harder because I know how I’m treated by white countries when I travel. Particularly the U.S. I am happy though, that these children are being given a chance at life elsewhere. I am looking forward to having Africans adopt some of those babies I see that need help from America, particularly the un-wanted ones born in christian households in the bible-belt. Many of us are rich enough. I don’t know that it’s right to be dragging children along to the things you do, just because you’d rather have them with you – we’d all rather be with our children – but I think it’s a good thing that people can see you, and that they have to think about what’s going on. You must be having fun, and so must the kids. Sometimes people tell me that wanting children with my white boyfriend is worse than what you are doing, worse than being white, raising black children in a racist society. I think they are selfish and do not have the baby’s intrests at heart. I have major problems with Republicans however, and you may find that you eventually have problems with your children because of this. Being a gay republican does not make republican ideology pro-equality. It just highlights the hypocrisy within it and the very deep classist issues that perpetuate it. My experience of rich American Republicans is very different from my experience with poor ones. The rich one pretty much behave like God. They have the right to choose for themselves, every aspect of their lives. The poor ones must answer to their pastors and toe a socially constructed existence. Still, yes, you’re a Republican raising an African child. People have to deal with it. Ask the Republicans to stop sending Christians to Uganda preaching about the wrongs of condom use, and the devilishness of homosexuality. Stop them from blackmailing us to comply at the risk of loosing aid. Come and be our friends and show us how we can have a happier, more environmentaly friendly, and fairer world for everybody.

Captain_Dg

If you’ve worked any time in a business selling clothing or shoes to women you will know that skin color is important to their fashion choices. As a man (sexist that I must be) I don’t really get it. But believe me, to a lot of women color matters- FOR FASHION! So relax on chocolate brown. It is no different than talking of an autumn or summer complexion.

Ryan

I disagree with your politics, and I am happy you are raising an adopted child- the colour is irrelevant.

It makes me sad that so many wish to demonize their opposition rather than simply disagree with it.

http://wholenewmom.com Adrienne @ Whole New Mom

Can’t believe this. Like the party of abortion, homosexuality and enslaving folks is dependence on the State is good for anyone? I’m all for helping the poor, but not that way. We donate a lot of money privately and to our church that helps folks a ton.

T Stewart

God bless you and your family.

Not impressed

This article comes across as defensive and self congratulatory. It elicited many comments in the same vein. Nancy seems to be preaching to the choir, as many people prefer to do. I am turned off by the “us vs. them” mentality of both the author and many of the comments.

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

You mean you are putting your own way (us) versus my way (them)? Nice nuance.

Akii

Dear Nancy, I can’t say enough thank you for your and husband heart for giving this child a loving home and hope for the future. Politics aside my heart is heavy and burdened at how many children are in need of this care and pray and thank all those who step up to help and above all teach them the Love of Christ. Ignore those who hate for they will always be there anyway and look up to the Heaven for you father is smiling at you Mathew 10:42 He says ONE and you did just that, Thank you. Colossians 3:3 Hide there. By the way I am a black wife, mother and from Africa and my Husband is moving to Vanderbilt.

Michelle Smith

Very well stated…..loved the article! I have not adopted black children but have given birth to 2 bi-racial….yes they are both white and black….raised that they have been given the best of both worlds Sad that we live in the times where our culture wants to continue to go backwards and undo all the hard work such individuals lost their lives for such as MLK,etc….. I too am a Republican! My children were raised knowing that they have the FREEDOM to make their own decisions as adults…..I pray they make smart choices ~ will I agree with everything they say and do…..probably not…..will I love them anyways~ ABSOLUTELY…..will I intimidate them to think or vote the way I do~ABSOLUTELY NOT! I do not condone violence, bullying or intimidation and our culture needs to realize we are all in this together….agree to disagree….We were all made by the same God who loves all of us ~ We all are family regardless of race, gender, religion, economic status……the sooner we all get it the better our world will become

Not impressed

Having a differing opinion or criticizing someone is not the same as taking an “us vs. them” stance. I will admit that my comment was critical, but I did not imply that there is a certain kind of person out there that is antagonistic to me, or that you and I fall into different group of people than I do. There is nuance in what I wrote, but you missed it because of the defensiveness with which you are approaching this topic. I read your husband’s subsequent article, and it helped further flesh out why you are responding in anger– you feel attacked. I understand you are not superhuman, some of the things people have said to and about your family are really offensive and even scary. I just disagree with him/you that there is a point at which you are excused to let loose and generalize/demonize groups of people. It’s all the rage in political debate, but I find it distasteful and counterproductive.

I just want to commend you. You really captured me when you said that you are learning to braid her hair and put colorful beads in her hair. I know that is a minor detail but what it tells me is that you are going to teach her her culture and to be proud of who she is. I am basically a democrat, but I am a Christian above any politcal party! I appreciate what you have done and I think that this is an outward statement that shows the Christ kind of love and demolishes prejudice and hate. I respect what you have done and it just reminds me not to judge people in other parties and it helps me to remember that having the Spirit of God is what really matters in the end. You never know how God is going to bring people together, I personally could care less about the political parties, but it is still a part of all our lives. I just appreciate your love seen a need and responded. And furthermore it seems that you will teach her that her black is just as smart and just as beautiful and just as important and has just as much purpose as anybody else. And while it should not matter we no the Bible says that Man looks at the outer apperance” I just commend you for your obediance and if more of us could do this we could expose the spirit of racism and release the spirit of love. God Bless you!

http://www.NancyFrench.com Nancy French

Shanta, thanks for the note!! Here’s a recent post I did “showing off” what I’ve learned so far about hair:

I am African American, female and vote Democratic most of the time and I don’t understand why people are making this lady seem as if she did something wrong by odopting this black child! What she is doing is giving love to her fellow human being. Wake up people!!! Take the rock out of your own eye before trying to see a splinter in someone else’s eye!

Jeremy

Thank You Nancy. Your article was inspiring. We are in the process of adopting an African American child and have received a lot of odd looks at the mere suggestion we would adopt someone with differing skin color.

http://www.NancyFrench.com/ Nancy French

So when I use the phrase “poverty stricken,” that implies more than the fact that her home region is, in fact, impoverished? Or, is “home region” also a trigger for you? Or, “impoverished?” Let’s face facts. We adopted a kid, and you are so blinded by your politics you believe adoption is bad. But we all know that you would not have done one thing to protect my child from starvation. Your rhetoric is so non-colonialist… and pathetic.

afrosaxon1

The more I read of your site, the more horrified I am that you’ve adopted a black child. “Starving, African, Tribal” . These are all words that you ‘ve used… good grief. As if being tribal automatically means being worse off. Not to mention how loaded the word ‘tribal’ is. Please read the book ‘Orientalism’ by Edward Said. For your child’s sake. I can’t get over how condescending and entitled this article is. Wow.

afrosaxon1

Thankyou for this. This is exactly what I thought..

Heal ThySelf Too-Live

Nancy needs to know she isn’t the first white family to adopt an “Ethiopian” child (not black…black is a color) How are you to teach her about her culture & you have no idea who she is? Already you’re indoctrinating her into white hatred. People from other countries are proud of their ethnicity; only in America is it substituted for a color. SMDH

Howard Sterner

This woman is way out there on the Fanatic Right Wing knucklehead

Immanuel LLoyd Hamburger

What is a “white family”? White is a color.

Also, “Ethiopian” isn’t an ethnicity; it’s a nationality. There are dozens of ethnicities in Ethiopia.

http://www.tempeteaparty.org Lee Reynolds

You’ve got taking faux offense down to a science.

afrosaxon1

It’s not faux offense if someone is actually offended .Maybe you’d start out better by explaining why I shouldn’t be offended? She states that she ‘loves her little black child’ her 2 reasons that follow are 1) She is learning to braid her hair with beads. And 2) She is learning what colours look good against her ‘chocolate’ skin. If that’s not exoticising, I don’t know what is. It’s like saying ‘I love my little adopted Korean son, I’m so enjoying learning about what glasses go well with my Asian child’s eyes.’. Yes, this little girl will have a wonderful education (in the traditional sense), and not want for anything physically, but psychologically she’s is going to be so messed up by her racist parents unless there is some sort of divine intervention. Especially because her parents don’t think they’re racist, and have people like you constantly affirming and congratulating them on their patronising nonsense.

Molly

Conservatives: “All people can succeed if they work hard and make good choices.”

Liberals: “We recognize that centuries of oppression and institutionalized racism have made opportunities for success more difficult for minorities, not because of they are lesser or stupid, but because they have the system working against them in ways that the majority does not. That’s why it’s important to work at evening out the playing field between them and other groups, so that they can have the same opportunities as the majority, which they would normally otherwise be denied.” *

There, fixed it for you.

Sarah

This is a hilarious response! Thanks!

Also, @healthyselftoolive:disqus, I’m actually a Swiss-American, from a Swiss-American family, and my ethnicity is Germanic, just FYI. None of this “white” crap.

ssgcmwatson

Your “fix” ignores just about everything wrong with liberal positions on a variety of issues and their relation to race (which was ostensibly Karou’s original point).

Obama doesn’t fund DC Opportunity Scholarships, but sends his kids to a posh private school. So thousands of kids (of all races) get stuck in a failing system, but his kids get a top-notch education.

University admission committees are often more concerned with the color of an applicant’s skin than the content of their character. (Unless, of course, the applicant falls under the “Asian” category.) Children of wealthy black lawyers get more entrance “points” than children of poor Korean shopkeepers?

You know what is used to level playing fields? Bulldozers. And when bulldozers encounter human beings, the result is usually very messy and not to the humans’ benefit.

V Tramell

Nancy, pay no attention to the vitriol expressed here. They are the beliefs of people who refuse to think for themselves and believe in the false propaganda of statist control. They have no concept of the freedoms their blind devotion will cost them.

God bless you and your family for giving that little girl the unconditional love and opportunities for a fulfilling life she may not have otherwise had. Who knows, she may grow up to be the one to cure cancer, HIV or alzheimers.

African girl

You are a good person, god bless you

mali08225@yahoo.com

That poor black child.

bestgrandpa

My oldest granddaughter was adopted from Ethiopia. About 3 years ago I brought her to my work to meet some of my co-workers. A co-worker who grew up in Vietnam said to me (so my granddaughter would hear) , “Oh, I am surprised; she is not as black as I thought she would be!” Later my granddaughter response was, “She’s weird”…